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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

T. C. READ.

DESK.

No. 373,753. PatentedNov. 22, 1887.

l mm www. www. l1 C- (NoModel.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. C.' READ.

DESK.

No. 373,753. Y Patented Nov. 22, 1887.

Uvyvisqfsmz JC W /NVENTOH I m7 m' l Attorneys n mus. MLM vra-wanna UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

THADDEUS C. READ, OF FOSTORIA, OHIO.

DESK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 373,753, dated November 22, 1887.

Application filed April 19, 1887.

T0 all whom it may con/cern:

Be it known that I, THADDEUs G. READ, of Fostoria, in the county of Seneca and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Y Improvements in Desks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

'My invention relates to improvements in desks and mechanisms connected therewith; and it consists in certain features of construction, and in combination of parts hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

Inthe accompanying drawings, Figure l is a View in perspective of my improved desk. Fig. 2 is a plan showing more especially the movable part of the desk. Fig. 3 is an elevation in section on the line x m, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an elevation in section of the movable part of the desk taken on the line y y, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a plan of mechanism for holding the book open. Fig. 6 is an internal plan of the movable sections ofthe desk. Fig. 7 is a front elevation, partly in section, showing more especially the locking mechanism connected with the movable section.

Arepresents the stationary lower portion of the desk, B the movable section thereof, and C the upper portion ofthe desk, that I will for convenience call hook-casa7 as it is frequently used for this purpose. Cleats a are secured to the inner casing of the part A,for supporting the section B in its depressed position tinsh with the stationary parts. The section B, by means of suitable grooves, is made to embrace and slide on vertical ways c, the latter being secured to the inner faces of the book-case, near the back side thereof, these ways also extending down about on a line with the cleats a. Rollers c', journaled in suitable boxes connected with the rear lower corner of section B, travel on the back G'and prevent the movable section from cramping on the ways. To the rear upper corner of section B is attached a bail, b, and to the bail is attached the cord b', the latter leading up overa sheave, c2, located at the top of the book-case. From thence the cord leads down along the back C', and is attached to a counter-balance, C, thelatter op- Serial No. 235,371. (No model.)

erating inside ofthe casing C3, the casing serving as a guide and screen for the counterbalance.

A locking device foi-holding section B in the desired positionis as follows: Arod,D, extends rearward underneath and preferably near one side of section B, to which latter it is connected by means of suitable clasps, boxes, staples, or other device that will allow the rod to turn a limited distance on its axis. The rod has a handle, D', for operating the same, and has a cross-bar, d, at or near the rear end of the latter. The depending part of this cross-bar is turned laterally, as shown at d', and is made to enter holes or notches c4, made at suitable intervals along the inner faces of the bookcase. The upper end of the cross-bar d is pivoted to a rod, d2, the latter extending to the other side f of the section B, to which section it is secured by a suitable clasp or staple. this rod is loosely connected to a spring-plate, d, having a dog, dl, which enters holes or notches o4in the opposing face oft-he book-case. By operating the handle D the two dogs are simultaneously withdrawn from the notches 'c by the tension of the springplate d, made to automatically react and engage the notches. This section has a lid, E, hinged at the front side thereof, so that it may be tilted, as shown in Fig. 4.

As the bottom board, B', of section B lies horizontally, and the lid E in its normal or depressed position isinclined, such relation of parts admits of ablocking or carriage located between the lid and bottom, and so arranged that the lid is tilted upward or downward by moving such carriage or blockinggforward and rearward. The board B has a slot, B", and parallel tracks B3 are laid on either side of the slot. Grooved or flanged pulleys b2 travel on these tracks and are mounted on an axle, B. A handle, b3, is connected with the axle and The end fr of extends down through the slot B2 for operating the carrier. An arm, b, connected with the axle is curved or bent rearward in such shape that the free end of the arm may rest on the board B,and for this purpose the end of the arm is made broad enough to span the slot B2 and rest on the bottom board on either side of the slot, this end of the arm being made to ICO 2o forward too far.

35 made in this plate.

5 bottom board, in which position the carriage is easily moved forward or rearward to elevate or depress the lid, and when the handle ,is leftfree the gravity of the parts will press the pawl upon the bottom board, by reason of 1o `which the carriage is heldin any position to which it has been adjusted. The lid E has a foot-plate, E', hinged thereto near the front edge of the lid for holding a book in position on the lid. The foot-plate when folded down I 5 is flush with the iid. The foot-plate has a de pending toc, e, that, when the foot-plate is in position approximately at right angles to the lid, engagesa plate, e', thelatter beingsecured to the lid to prevent the plate E from turning A spring, e2, is attached to the under side of the lid and presses against the toe e', the tendency of which is to yieldingly hold the plate E in either position, open or folded.

A device for holding a book open and holding the leaves down is as follows: A hollow standard, F, has a partition, f, running lengthwise thereof, and has hook ends f these portions forming ways for the sliding barV G. (See 3o Figs. 4 and 5.) The standard lits in between ribs e3 of the plate E', and the standard isheld in place sufficiently firm for th'e purpose by means of a springdog, F', the dog passing outside the plate E and engaging a notch, e", By pressing the handle of the dog toward the standard F the dog is drawn out of the notch e4, after which the standard may be removed from the plate.

The slide G has attached a cross-bar, H, to

4o which latter, and near the extremes thereof,

are 'pivoted the fingers I, made to swing in a vertical plane. These fingers extend over the Y book for holding the latter open, and may be elevated in placing the book in position or in turning the leaves thereof. Each finger has attached a toe, z', shaped substantially as shown in Fig. 4. The barHhas springs h, attached for respectively engaging the toes 'z'. When a finger is elevated to a position subgo stantially at right angles to the plane of the book, the spring h engages the end of the toe i and holds the finger in such elevated position. Vhen the finger is depressed, the spring engages the side of the toe and holds the iin- 53 ger down on the book. Of course the differ` ent parts may be made light, as it requires but little force to hold the book open. For adjusting the fingers to the thickness of the Vbook the slide G is moved endwise in the 6o standard. This slide has a spring-dog, G', at-

tached, the point of which enters holes or notches made in the partition f, to hold the slide in the desired position. An elastic cord,

whence the cord leads back into the chamber of the standard, where it is fastened. This cord would draw the fingers gently upon the book in case the dog G was in position between two notches.

With the arrangement of parts shown and described the section B may be adjusted and held at the desired elevation to accommodate a person sitting or standing, and for reading or writing.

When the book-holding mechanism is used, the lid is tilted to such angle as will render the character of the book most legible. Meantime the stationary portions of the desk are always in convenient proximity for writing.

It is believed that my improved desk will be of great value not only to persons engaged in literary pursuits, but will. be desirable for general office use.

l. The combination, with a desk having stationary end sections and a vertically-movable middle section mounted on vertical ways, of a rocking shaft located on the middle section,and a pair of dogs connected to said shaft and adapted to enter notches in the stationaryseetions, one of said dogs having sufiicient tension to normally hold the dogs in contact with the stationary sections, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a desk having a hinged lid set in its normal position oblique with the bottom member of the desk, of a carriage located inside the desk and made to elevate and depress the lid by its engagement therewith, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a desk having a hinged lid arranged substantially as indicated, of parallel tracks located inside the desk, on the bottom member thereof, a carriage mounted on such tracks, a roller mounted on the carriage for engaging the lid, and a friction gravity-pawl connected with the carriage, the parts being arranged substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a desk, hinged lid, tracks, and carriage, substantiallyas indicated, of a handle and friction-pawl rigidly connected or made integral with such carriage-axle, the parts being arranged substantially as indicated, whereby the pawl engages IOO IIO

the bottom member of the desk by gravity of the parts, and is disengaged therefrom by tilting the handle, substantially as set forth.

5. rEhe combination, with a desk having a.l

hinged to the desk, and a. foot-plate hinged tion, in the presence of two wituesses,this 7th to the lid, of mechanism for holding a book i day ofApril, 1887.

open, such mechanism bein vdetachnbly secured t-o the folding foot-pte and having THADDEUS, C' READ 5 hinged fingers to extend Vover the book, sub- Witnesses:

sbantially as set forth. A. J. STACKHOUSE,

In testimomy whereof I sign this specica- J. G. CALAHAN. 

